Boyd, Daly and Adams take First Heat wins in Mixed Conditions

Heat wins for Wayne Boyd, Stephen Daly and Michael Adams puts them in the best possible position going into the three Semi-Finals tomorrow for the Formula Ford Festival.

Heat 1

The first Heat of the day started with wet conditions. A shock for those young drivers who have yet to begin any single seater race from a standing start. Pole sitter Boyd made a poor start but managed to keep his lead from Luke Willams who pressured around the outside.

There were a number of cars struggling to go into the first corner without spinning as Michai Stephens made up to fourth. He would continue to improve as others slid themselves around the track.

Having made his way up to third, Stephens would be gifted second place in the closing laps as Williams was forced to go through the gravel as a yellow came out for a car spun in paddock bend. However; it wasn’t enough to catch Boyd, who took victory by 5 seconds.

Behind the top three, Robert Barrable took fourth having defended his position from 2013 winner Niall Murray who pressured him for the majority of the race after he fell back at the start.

However; the defensive drive of the race went to Abdul Ahmed who was held on to sixth despite immense pressure from Chris Middlehurst, who was one of the quickest on track having qualified poorly. Meanwhile; Gareth Sykes caught them up in the closing laps to take eighth.

Wayne Boyd held on to victory in Heat 1 (Credit: Nick Smith, The Image Team)

Heat 2

Polesitter Joey Foster made a poor getaway, losing his position going into Graham Hill Bend. Stuart Gough takes the position off the line, but has no grip on the outside and loses the lead almost immediately. However; it’s third place Daly who keeps his inside line and quickly takes the lead.

Daly would quickly build up a lead, but would have it completely destroyed after the safety car came out in the opening laps. Adam MacKay, would crash at Paddock Hill Bend, while Richard Higgins was also removed.

With the rain stopped, a dry lap was starting to emerge, as Daly lead them away for a four lap sprint. It was Dakota Dickerson who was struggling the most, but he maintained his fifth position in the opening lap.

Daly did not seem flustered as he took the victory in some style ahead of Foster and Jake Byrne, while the battle for fourth saw Dickerson outbrake Gough into Druids, Melroy Heemskerk, put in the performance of the race to work back up to sixth.

Heat 3

Credit: Nick Smith, The Image Team

The final race saw Kevin O’Hara make a poor start as he immediately lost his lead to James Raven. The lead did not last long as Raven braked on the wet line into Paddock Hill Bend spinning off the track and almost into the barrier.

The cars behind fed into position, promoting Michael Adams to the lead. It wasn’t an easy race, with the #49 of O’Hara swapping in and out of the lead within the opening laps. It didn’t last long though as the back markers established the final order.

An excellent move around the outside saw Adams take the initiative and put a gap to O’Hara with Jonny McLunnan in third and pressuring for the win. As the race went on, it became clear that the top three were breaking away, but the order soon settled down.

The win for Adams puts himself in the best possible position as the young Scholarship driver, looks to become the first Canadian to win the Festival.

Oliver White collected a lonely fourth with Geoff Richardson beating Neil McLennan after a tough battle that saw the two quickly lose track of those in front. Meanwhile Raven recovered to eighth, right behind Noel Robinson in seventh.